Overnight Pumpkin Oats

I really like oatmeal.  Cold, hot, baked, plain, flavored…I like it all.  During the summer, I enjoyed overnight oats frequently with blueberries. Now that it is Fall..I thought I would give pumpkin a try.  I love pumpkin spiced oatmeal (cooked version), but haven’t tried it cold.  It is super simple, healthy, and delicious…b/c even thought it’s Fall…the temps are still holding on to summer. We’ve had ONE cool morning!
Overnight Pumpkin Oats
1/4 steel cut oats
1/2 cup milk *I like unsweetened almond-coconut milk
1/4-1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or to taste)
Add oats, milk, pumpkin and spice in a jar or covered container overnight in the fridge.  In the morning, stir and eat. That’s it! Super simple.
Happy Friday 🙂
I’m linking up at for Ingredient Spotlight – Pumpkin!

Mexican Style Chicken and Rice Soup with Roasted Vegetables

This is a recipe that came about by accident.  It started as a wildly popular recipe I saw on Pinterest….that was a complete and utter failure 🙁  I’m not going to link to the original post, b/c I did not follow that person’s cooking recommendations, just comments I saw on Pinterest. It involved seasoning packets (ranch and taco seasoning) and cooking chicken in the crockpot. I think cooking it in the crockpot with the seasonings was my mistake.  It was SO salty that it was almost inedible.  So I had 2 lbs of salty taco-ish flavored chicken that I did not want to waste.  I decided the best use of it would probably be in soup, b/c my soup usually isn’t salty enough anyway!

I decided to make this Chicken Tortilla Soup again.  But I wanted to change it up a little.  I wanted to add brown rice, and I wanted lime juice.  So….chicken and rice soup with a Mexican flair.  However, the flavor from the broth of the original Chicken Tortilla Soup was really good with the poblano and jalapeno peppers, so I wanted to keep those.  Then I had another little brain storm…how about roasting all the veggies before adding them to the soup?!  YES! So now it’s Roasted Vegetable Mexican Chicken and Rice Soup! That is quite a mouthful for a title…how about we just call it RVMCR Soup.  Nahh, that sounds like some new virus or something.

Anyway, the soup turned out amazing!  I mean, seriously delicious, and I am just hoping that I can remember everything I did so that I can recreate it now that it is Fall! (sorta Fall…supposed to be in the mid 80’s today!)

Mexican Style Chicken and Rice Soup with Roasted Vegetables

1-2 lbs boneless, skinless cooked chicken breasts*
1 poblano pepper, seeded
2 jalepeno, seeded
1/4 large yellow onion, cut in half
2 cloves unpeeled garlic
1 can of Rotel Tomatoes with Cilantro and Lime
8 oz tomato sauce
1/2 Tbsp ground cumin
8 cups low-sodium chicken broth1 cup brown rice*
salt & pepper to taste
lime juice (optional)
cheese (optional)
cilantro (optional)

*Simple method is to cook chicken in the crockpot with a packet of low sodium taco seasoning. I cooked one cup brown rice in my rice cooker, then added it to the soup. I’m sure you could cook it in the soup, but you may need to add a little extra liquid and increase cooking time.
Directions:
Place peppers, onions and garlic (and any other veggies you want to add, I threw in a few carrots too) on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and toss around to cover with oil. Roast vegetables at about 425 degrees for approx 20 mins. (This will depend on how many and what types of veggies you used) 
While veggies are roasting, add the can of tomatoes (juice and all), cumin, and tomato sauce. Bring to a simmer.  Add the chicken broth and chicken. Bring the soup to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. 
Once the vegetables are done, allow to cool for a few minutes, peel garlic, and toss them all into a food processor (or blender). You can also add a big handful of cilantro if you are on Team CilantroIsAwesome.  If not a fan, use just a small amount or omit.  Pulse until desired texture is reached.  I don’t like big chunks of veggies.  Add pureed vegetables to simmering soup.  Add prepared brown rice.
Simmer for about 30 minutes, giving all the flavors a chance to get to know one another.
To serve, give the soup a big squeeze of lime, salt and pepper if needed (I did not add salt), garnish with a little sour cream (or plain yogurt), a sprinkle of parmesan or cheese of choice, and more cilantro!
SO GOOD!!! I wish I had some right now!  Plus, I was able to salvage a recipe fail and turn it into something fabulous!
What is your biggest recipe fail? What did you do with it?  I hate to waste food, but I’ve been known to feed the garbage can on more than one occasion.

Linking up with , , , ,

Rolo Cereal Treats with Brownie Mix

brrrrr! It actually feels like winter Fall this morning!  Since my puppy did not get the memo that I am NOT a morning person, he had me up and outside at 5:30am….and I had to grab my coat!  Granted, this is the South, so if it drops below 70, it’s cold.  But I dare say, it was in the 40’s! (Of course, it’s supposed to reach the upper 70’s later today).  Anyway, enough about the weather.  It’s just that the chill in the air is finally making me accept the fact that Fall is here, and right around the corner is Halloween!  So…I made you some “spooky” treats.

But not just any cereal treats…ones with gooey candy pieces, and brownie mix.  And spooky sprinkles.  And Cheerios mixed with Rice Krispies…b/c I want to lower your cholesterol levels.  Ok, maybe that last part isn’t entirely true.  Not that I want you to have high cholesterol…but…well, never mind.
I must say, adding Rolos to cereal treats is pretty brilliant.  I’m sure I’m not the first person to come up with this…but let’s just pretend I am. And adding brownie mix….well, you know how I just made the Brownie Biscoff Puppy Chow…I’m a little obsessed.

Rolo Cereal Treats with Brownie Mix

  • 6 cups cereal (I used a combo of Cheerios and Rice Krispies)
  • 3 T. butter
  • 1 bag of miniature marshmallows (minus a few my kids ate)
  • 1/4 cup brownie mix (*I will use 1/2 cup next time)
  • 1/2 cup Rolos candy – frozen and halved (optional)
  1. Melt butter over medium heat in a large pot. Once melted, add marshmallows and stir until almost melted.
  2. Add brownie mix and stir until marshmallows are completely melted and brownie mix is incorporated.  Remove from heat and add cereal.  Mix until coated.
  3. Add frozen candy pieces and stir.  You have to do this  fairly quickly b/c the mixture begins to cool and it is difficult to get the candy mixed in.  (but is it a bad thing to have a few clumps of chocolate and caramel candy? Not in my world.)
  4. Place mixture into a greased 13 x 9 inch pan (can use parchment/wax paper/aluminum foil for easy removal if desired.)  Mash cereal treats into pan, I like to spray my hands with cooking spray and use my hands.  But utensils are okay too.  Top with sprinkles if desired.
  5. Let treats cool, then cut into squares.  Store in airtight container.  They lasted about 24 hours at my house.  If that.
I’m sharing this recipe over at , , , , , , , , , , 

Fall Favorites Round-Up

So guess what?! It’s Fall y’all!  Ready or not, apples, pumpkins and latte weather is here.  I’m not sure where my summer went, but time to put away the iced coffee and beach umbrellas and pull out the jack-o-lantern’s.  Since I am seeing so many Fall recipes on Pinterest, I thought it would be a good time to look back on the things I have made that will get me in the ‘Fall spirit’!

Homemade Caramel (for caramel apples)
Wow, I think I have a thing for pumpkin!
Now that it is a little cooler, and I have bought my pumpkins and mums for the front porch, guess I will be whipping up some of these recipes.  Especially the pumpkin oatmeal!!

What are your favorite Fall foods?

Everything, including the kitchen sink!

I know we just moved into our new house, but…it’s not exactly new.  So I am already entertaining (read ‘pinning’) remodeling ideas.  One of the things I want is a NEW KITCHEN SINK!  The one I have now is sooo shallow, and I am constantly managing to spray/splash water all over everything.  Also, none of my larger pans fit in it well AND it fills up so fast that I feel like I constantly need to do dishes. Blech!  I mean seriously, I want a big sink that will hold lots of dishes, so they can sit there for a while 😉

In looking around, I have seen several farmhouse sinks that I like…also called the .  I like how these are made, and there are so many style options to choose from.
Herbeau 4614

I like the idea of one large sink.  But I also like having a double sink. How cool is this copper one?

Native Trails CPS.74 Double Bowl Hammered Copper Farm / Apron Kitchen Sink

and I really like this one

But then I’m sure I would want new counter tops.  And then I would need new flooring.  And then the adjoining dining room would have to be updated to match…and then my husband might start having chest pains. Better take it slow 🙂

Feel free to share your remodeling pins/ideas with me!  I need to post some pics of my kitchen and bath so y’all can help me out!  Just don’t tell my husband about all my plans….


This is a sponsored post, however, all opinions are my own.

Rolo Brownies

Chocolate. Again! I know, I should be ashamed.  Remember these?
Yep, this is when I discovered brownie mix + 1/2 cup plain yogurt = low fat, egg free, scrumptious brownies!!  So….I’ve sorta been making brownies….a lot.  Oopsies.
I actually made these before I moved to take to a friend’s house.  
She made us this amazing salad-
Grilled chicken, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, poppy seed dressing. It was delicious.
And my contribution. 
To counteract all those fruits and vegetables.
I made them for the kids of course. *wink wink*
Rolo Brownies
1 box of your favorite brownie mix (I always buy the family size box)
1/2 cup plain yogurt (I use the non-fat)
24 Rolo candies *frozen 
(*this helps keep them from melting too much. I did not do this b/c I am not that organized and was throwing these together last minute, so it is not an essential step.)
Preheat the oven to the temperature on your brownie box.  Grease/spray a mini-muffin pan with cooking spray or use mini cupcake liners.  Mix the brownie mix with the yogurt and the amount of water called for on your box of mix.  Do not add eggs or oil.  Fill muffin cups about 1/2 to 3/4 full.  Add frozen Rolo candies to center of filled muffin cups. Bake until done at temp on your box of mix.
**If you want your Rolo candy in the middle/inside of the brownie…add a little brownie batter in each muffin cup, place Rolo in the center, then cover with brownie batter.
Needless to say, brownies + candy = happy children.  Except for Mr. Three, who likes to keep his brownies ‘pure’.  No additions for him! So, if you have any super picky kids, keep a few plain 🙂

Fiber One Chewy Bars & a GIVEAWAY!

Now that the kids are back in school, and we are getting into the routine again, I’ve already started with the age old question: What to pack for lunch?!  My kids take their lunch to school everyday. So everyday, I try to come up with nutritious, tasty lunches and snacks.  This is not easy when you have super picky kids.  It doesn’t take long for the lunch routine to become monotonous, and I start searching for new things to pack.

That is where new Chewy Bars come in.  They come in Chocolate and Strawberry PB&J; varieties, and my girls love them both!  I love them b/c they are a great source of fiber (which most of us need more of), they contain NO HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), and did I mention…my kids love them?!  A healthier snack option that they ask for! Score!  (Also, 110 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, and 8 grams of sugar or less, depending upon the variety!)

Interested in trying these out? Head over to and print out an .80 cent off coupon!

Also, while you’re here…enter to win this great Fiber One Prize Pack!

  • (1) Box of Fiber One Chewy bars in Chocolate
  • (1) Box of the Fiber One Chewy bars in Strawberry PB&J;
  • Water Bottle
  • Lunch Tote
  • Sandwich Bag
  • Mini Lunch Notes
  • Notebook Mate

Just enter via the rafflecopter form.

Disclosure:  The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have all been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.